The Great Gray Abortion Debate

I heard a recent report regarding the endorsement of a Republican Gubernatorial candidate here in Georgia that led me to take up my pen. It centered on a highly regarded right-to-life organization’s non-endorsement of Karen Handel since she agrees with the woman’s right to choose to abort a pregnancy in the case of rape or incest. This non-endorsement is seen as a “kiss of death” moment for any GOP candidate, and the report made a point to emphasize it as such.

The issue of abortion is contentious to say the least. This issue is so incredibly divisive that the lines that separate the schools of thought cross party, religion, socio-economic status, and education. There does seem to be a pattern for the majority of the right to life and pro-choice movements politically, but it is far from absolute. I personally feel that this schism over abortion when you include the two additionally unspeakable acts of rape and incest that blur the black and white of the abortion issue into a very tenuous gray.

Let me be clear: I firmly believe abortion should not be used or regarded birth control, and I don’t believe the majority of pro-choice advocates see it as so. Perhaps the extremists in their camp see the option as usable in any circumstance, but I cannot see any rational thinking human regarding the termination of what has been proven to be a living organism just because someone had a lapse of judgment or precaution as acceptable.

However, if under the vile circumstances where a woman’s sanctity has been violated beyond reason by a human animal, why should that woman be forced to bear not only the pain of the violation but the trauma of carrying the seed of the encounter, even if the child is to be given for adoption? Does the absolute pro-life stance regard the psychological state of the mother in this instance? What kind of life would that mother and her child have after enduring the months of torment brought on by absolutely no choice of her own?

The concept of forcing a woman who has been impregnated by force or without her consent to carry that child full term amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. If she is emotionally and spiritually strong enough to carry the child to term, she should absolutely have no barriers to do so, but let it be her choice. To have a living breathing person who has had her sanctity ripped from forced to see the results of violence come to fruition is even more inhumane. By doing so we would have two lives that are in potential turmoil, and one needs someone’s care for their very survival. In a way, they both do.

Going to the abortion clinic after a night of irresponsibility is not where I am on this issue. Having the ability to ensure life can go on for the violated by the simple right to choose what one does with one’s body is. Ultimately, the burden is on the individual, whether they act or not, and there are consequences for either path.

Chip Grefski